MANCHESTER UNITED are commencing their Champions League campaign with an away trip to Young Boys in the early kick-off this evening.
United were knocked out of the competition last season in the group stages before reaching the final of the Europa League, where they lost on penalties to Villarreal.
But now they’re back in the big time, and with Champions League king Cristiano Ronaldo at their disposal.
Their other matches will feature a reunion with Villarreal and a clash with Gian Piero Gasperini’s exciting Atalanta team.
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- Young Boys vs Man Utd kicks off at 5.45pm UK time – 6.45pm in Switzerland.
- Young Boys vs Man Utd is live on BT Sport 1.
- You can live stream the action from the BT Sport app, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
- Coverage of the game will begin from 5pm UK time.
- You can live stream a radio broadcast of the game on TalkSport 2.
- EE customers can get BT Sport INCLUDED to their plan at no extra cost if they are on a plan with Smart Benefits – simply log in to EE and choose BT Sport app.
- And then get it on the big screen by texting SPORT to 150 to get a FREE three-month trial of large screen so you can cast all the action on your TV.
- At the end of the three months you will automatically roll onto the £15 per month subscription unless cancelled.
- Young Boys XI: Von Ballmoos, Heftl, Camara, Lauper, Garcia, Sierro, Pereira, Fassnacht, Aebischer, Ngamaleu, Elia.
- Man Utd XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Fred, Van de Beek; Sancho, Fernandes, Pogba; Ronaldo
ASTRO AHEAD
An artificial pitch awaits United tonight.
But OGS isn’t about to make excuses about the pitch and says his players won’t have any either.
Speaking to Man Utd’s site, he said: “At least Astroturf is green!
“Being from Norway, I’m used to Astroturf pitches.
“There’s absolutely no complaints. You can’t have any reason to misplace a pass, to be honest. And it seems a good one.
“I’ve not tested it yet but it should be good.”
LATEST ODDS
Strangely, you’d think the United price may have shortened with Betfair given Ronaldo’s inclusion.
But it’s actually the hosts that have tightened with United staying well odds on.
- Young Boys to win – 13/2
- Draw – 4/1
- Man Utd to win – 2/5
YOUNG BOYS LINE-UP
Here’s how tonight’s host from Berne line-up.
YOUNG BOYS XI: Von Ballmoos, Camara, Sierro, Ngamaleu, Elia, Fassnacht, Aebischer, Garcia, Lauper, Martins, Hefti
WANKDORF ARRIVAL
The United players arriving at the stadium a short time ago.
Just under an hour until we get under way!
UNITED BENCH
And the players that Solskjaer can call on if needed across the evening.
Subs: Heaton, Kovar, Bailly, Dalot, Varane, Mata, Matic, Lingard, Elanga, Greenwood, Martial
MANCHESTER UNITED TEAM NEWS
Someone else perhaps not anticipated to start but Donny van de Beek gets his opportunity in the United midfield.
Fred, Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba all start too in what looks like possibly being a diamond in the middle of the park.
Raphael Varane starts on the bench as Victor Lindelof comes in.
MAN UTD XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Fred, Pogba. Bruno Fernandes, van de Beek, Sancho, Ronaldo
AND THE ANSWER…..
RONALDO STARTS!
TEAM NEWS IS IN!!
OR THIS?
It’s not just Ronaldo that Solskjaer would want to rest.
Can he take a risk on matchday one away from home though?
If he’s up for it, could it be this line-up?
POSSIBLE LINE-UP
If he does play Ronaldo, will this be tonight’s XI?
WILL HE PLAY OR WILL HE NOT?
Will Solskjaer look to hand Ronaldo a rest tonight?
The coach suggested he may leave Ronaldo out of his starting XI for Tuesday’s game after the team’s 4-1 win against Newcastle on Saturday.
When asked by the press about the player, Solskjaer said: “I have to manage a 36-year-old’s minutes.
“Of course there is a game on Tuesday. We will see what we do.”
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NIGHTS
European football’s premier competition is BACK.
The Champions League group stages get back under way tonight as 32 teams embark on a continental journey looking for glory.
Among them is Manchester United and we are with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men for their matchday one clash in Switzerland.
The Swiss side won the Super League for the fourth successive campaign last year to qualify for this year’s competition.
And they have been rewarded with a tough draw with United, Villarreal and Atalanta – though it’s one they might just fancy their chances.
For the Reds, it’s very much a group they will be confident of navigating, despite coming up against last season’s European nemesis Villarreal.
Saturday’s 4-1 home win over Newcastle made it three wins from their four games this season as they sit at the top of the Premier League.
Apart from that, not much else happened at Old Trafford….
The return of Ronaldo was always going to give the United squad and players a huge lift and it was some lift after bagging twice.
How long can they hold onto that bounce though?
One thing is for sure, this is a competition where CR7 has done not too badly in.
We’ll see how he and his United teammates get on as they get underway in just under 90 minutes.
Team news to come.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
